The first thing you may think when given a quote by an architect is that it feels quite expensive. But putting money aside for a moment, a key question to ask is why is an architect important and needed for your project? After all, anyone can draw up building plans and hire a contractor to start work, so perhaps you can go ahead without using an architect at all.
However, hiring an architect will add considerable value to your project and gives you a much better chance of finishing it to a high standard. Cutting corners on a large construction project can prove costly in the long run, so it pays to invest in quality. Below we explain why an architect is important and how they can help you on your planned project.
Building an extension or constructing a new property is an expensive experience and one that you want to ensure remains within your budget. An architect plays a big role in allowing you to achieve this, helping you find a suitable contractor while also project managing the construction stage.
The contract set in place will ensure costs are closely controlled and that the quality of work delivered by the contractor is up to standard. There is always a risk involved in any building contract, but by working with the right architect these can be minimised and ensure the end result matches your initial vision.
It pays to do your research before you hire an architect as you want to ensure they have the experience and knowledge needed for the project. By law they should also be members of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) who will hold them to certain industry standards.
Likewise, architects registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) follow an additional set of professional practises. RIBA is essentially the gold standard in the architectural industry as members are renowned for the exceptional quality of their work. A good architect should also have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), a health and safety policy, strong environmental policies and ideally an efficient quality management system in place.
As we mentioned above, part of the architect’s remit will be to project manage and ensure you stay within your budget during the building phase. This means making design choices that will not only make the most of the space but also maximise your budget without forcing you to overspend.
Be wary of architects that try to impose too many of their own ideas that may not fit in with your original idea. While you want them to have some creative freedom to offer new suggestions you may not have considered, your needs and preferences should always be front and centre of everything they do. You are the paying client after all.
Perhaps most importantly of all, due to an architect’s training and expertise, they will be aware of the latest health and safety regulations to ensure the building is up to regulatory standard and poses no risk to anyone using it.
This includes submitting any planning permission applications that may be required and ensuring that the architectural plans meet Building Regulation requirements and that the building is being built to standard. Building Control inspectors from the local authority will then be able to visit the site during the construction phase to carry out relevant health and safety checks to verify the build quality.
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